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Library: Shakuntala marries Dushyanta in Gandharva form.
दुःषन्त उवाच॥
Duḥṣanta spoke:
सुव्यक्तं राजपुत्री त्वं यथा कल्याणि भाषसे। भार्या मे भव सुश्रोणि ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते ॥१-६७-१॥
O princess, you speak clearly and auspiciously. Become my wife, O beautiful-hipped one, and tell me what I should do for you.
सुवर्णमाला वासांसि कुण्डले परिहाटके। नानापत्तनजे शुभ्रे मणिरत्ने च शोभने ॥१-६७-२॥
A golden garland, garments, earrings, and armlets from various cities, adorned with pure and beautiful gemstones.
आहरामि तवाद्याहं निष्कादीन्यजिनानि च। सर्वं राज्यं तवाद्यास्तु भार्या मे भव शोभने ॥१-६७-३॥
Today, I bring your necklaces and deer skins. Let your entire kingdom be mine today. O beautiful one, become my wife.
गान्धर्वेण च मां भीरु विवाहेनैहि सुन्दरि। विवाहानां हि रम्भोरु गान्धर्वः श्रेष्ठ उच्यते ॥१-६७-४॥
O timid one, marry me here by the Gandharva method, beautiful one. Indeed, O lovely-thighed one, the Gandharva marriage is said to be the best of marriages.
शकुन्तलोवाच॥
Śakuntalā said:
फलाहारो गतो राजन्पिता मे इत आश्रमात्। तं मुहूर्तं प्रतीक्षस्व स मां तुभ्यं प्रदास्यति ॥१-६७-५॥
O king, my father, the fruit-eater, has left the hermitage. Please wait for a moment; he will give me to you.
दुःषन्त उवाच॥
Duḥṣanta spoke:
इच्छामि त्वां वरारोहे भजमानामनिन्दिते। त्वदर्थं मां स्थितं विद्धि त्वद्गतं हि मनो मम ॥१-६७-६॥
I long for you, O beautiful and faultless lady, who is worshipped. Know that I am here for you, as my mind is indeed focused on you.
आत्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव गतिरात्मैव चात्मनः। आत्मनैवात्मनो दानं कर्तुमर्हसि धर्मतः ॥१-६७-७॥
One's own self is truly one's friend and goal. Therefore, by oneself, one should righteously give of oneself.
अष्टावेव समासेन विवाहा धर्मतः स्मृताः। ब्राह्मो दैवस्तथैवार्षः प्राजापत्यस्तथासुरः ॥१-६७-८॥
There are eight types of marriages considered righteous: Brāhma, Daiva, Ārṣa, Prājāpatya, and Asura.
गान्धर्वो राक्षसश्चैव पैशाचश्चाष्टमः स्मृतः। तेषां धर्मान्यथापूर्वं मनुः स्वायम्भुवोऽब्रवीत् ॥१-६७-९॥
Manu Svayambhuva described the laws of Gandharva, Rakshasa, and Paishacha marriages, remembering them as the eighth in order, as previously stated.
प्रशस्तांश्चतुरः पूर्वान्ब्राह्मणस्योपधारय। षडानुपूर्व्या क्षत्रस्य विद्धि धर्म्याननिन्दिते ॥१-६७-१०॥
Reflect on the four excellent qualities that were formerly of the Brahmin. Understand the six righteous and blameless qualities of the Kshatriya in their proper order.
राज्ञां तु राक्षसोऽप्युक्तो विट्शूद्रेष्वासुरः स्मृतः। पञ्चानां तु त्रयो धर्म्या द्वावधर्म्यौ स्मृताविह ॥१-६७-११॥
Among kings, the demon is also considered to be remembered as demonic among merchants and Shudras. Out of the five, three are considered righteous and two unrighteous here.
पैशाचश्चासुरश्चैव न कर्तव्यौ कथञ्चन। अनेन विधिना कार्यो धर्मस्यैषा गतिः स्मृता ॥१-६७-१२॥
Demonic acts and those of demons should never be performed. This method is considered the path of righteousness.
गान्धर्वराक्षसौ क्षत्रे धर्म्यौ तौ मा विशङ्किथाः। पृथग्वा यदि वा मिश्रौ कर्तव्यौ नात्र संशयः ॥१-६७-१३॥
Do not doubt the righteousness of the Gandharva and Rakshasa in the Kshatriya. Whether separately or together, there is no doubt they should be done.
सा त्वं मम सकामस्य सकामा वरवर्णिनि। गान्धर्वेण विवाहेन भार्या भवितुमर्हसि ॥१-६७-१४॥
O beautiful one, you, who are desirous, deserve to become my wife through a Gandharva marriage.
शकुन्तलोवाच॥
Śakuntalā said:
यदि धर्मपथस्त्वेष यदि चात्मा प्रभुर्मम। प्रदाने पौरवश्रेष्ठ शृणु मे समयं प्रभो ॥१-६७-१५॥
If this is the path of righteousness and my soul is indeed the lord, then, O best of the Pauravas, listen to my promise, O lord.
सत्यं मे प्रतिजानीहि यत्त्वां वक्ष्याम्यहं रहः। मम जायेत यः पुत्रः स भवेत्त्वदनन्तरम् ॥१-६७-१६॥
Promise me truthfully that I will share a secret with you. The son who is born to me will succeed you.
युवराजो महाराज सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीहि मे। यद्येतदेवं दुःषन्त अस्तु मे सङ्गमस्त्वया ॥१-६७-१७॥
O great king and crown prince, please tell me the truth. If this is indeed the case, Duṣṣanta, let me be united with you.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
एवमस्त्विति तां राजा प्रत्युवाचाविचारयन्। अपि च त्वां नयिष्यामि नगरं स्वं शुचिस्मिते ॥ यथा त्वमर्हा सुश्रोणि सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥१-६७-१८॥
The king, without much thought, agreed and said to her, "Indeed, I will take you to my city, O lady with a pure smile, as you truly deserve, O lady with beautiful hips. I sincerely mean this."
एवमुक्त्वा स राजर्षिस्तामनिन्दितगामिनीम्। जग्राह विधिवत्पाणावुवास च तया सह ॥१-६७-१९॥
Thus, after speaking, the royal sage took the blameless lady by the hand in the proper manner and lived with her.
विश्वास्य चैनां स प्रायादब्रवीच्च पुनः पुनः। प्रेषयिष्ये तवार्थाय वाहिनीं चतुरङ्गिणीम् ॥ तया त्वामानयिष्यामि निवासं स्वं शुचिस्मिते ॥१-६७-२०॥
After reassuring her, he left, repeatedly saying: "I will dispatch a fourfold army for your sake, O pure-smiling one, and with it, I will bring you to my abode."
इति तस्याः प्रतिश्रुत्य स नृपो जनमेजय। मनसा चिन्तयन्प्रायात्काश्यपं प्रति पार्थिवः ॥१-६७-२१॥
Having promised her, King Janamejaya contemplated and proceeded towards Kashyapa.
भगवांस्तपसा युक्तः श्रुत्वा किं नु करिष्यति। एवं सञ्चिन्तयन्नेव प्रविवेश स्वकं पुरम् ॥१-६७-२२॥
The Lord, absorbed in penance, pondered over 'What indeed will he do?' and thus, while contemplating, he entered his own city.
मुहूर्तयाते तस्मिंस्तु कण्वोऽप्याश्रममागमत्। शकुन्तला च पितरं ह्रिया नोपजगाम तम् ॥१-६७-२३॥
After a short while, Kaṇva returned to the hermitage. Śakuntalā, feeling shy, did not go to her father.
विज्ञायाथ च तां कण्वो दिव्यज्ञानो महातपाः। उवाच भगवान्प्रीतः पश्यन्दिव्येन चक्षुषा ॥१-६७-२४॥
Then, having realized her true nature, the sage Kaṇva, endowed with divine insight and great penance, spoke with satisfaction, perceiving with his divine vision.
त्वयाद्य राजान्वयया मामनादृत्य यत्कृतः। पुंसा सह समायोगो न स धर्मोपघातकः ॥१-६७-२५॥
Today, by you, disregarding me, what has been done with the royal lineage, the union with a man is not detrimental to dharma.
क्षत्रियस्य हि गान्धर्वो विवाहः श्रेष्ठ उच्यते। सकामायाः सकामेन निर्मन्त्रो रहसि स्मृतः ॥१-६७-२६॥
The Gandharva marriage, which is considered the best for a Kshatriya, is characterized by mutual consent and is conducted privately without rituals.
धर्मात्मा च महात्मा च दुःषन्तः पुरुषोत्तमः। अभ्यगच्छः पतिं यं त्वं भजमानं शकुन्तले ॥१-६७-२७॥
The righteous and noble Duṣyanta, the best among men, approached the husband whom you, O Śakuntalā, are devoted to.
महात्मा जनिता लोके पुत्रस्तव महाबलः। य इमां सागरापाङ्गां कृत्स्नां भोक्ष्यति मेदिनीम् ॥१-६७-२८॥
Your mighty son, a great soul and creator in the world, will rule over the entire earth surrounded by oceans.
परं चाभिप्रयातस्य चक्रं तस्य महात्मनः। भविष्यत्यप्रतिहतं सततं चक्रवर्तिनः ॥१-६७-२९॥
The great soul's supreme wheel, upon his departure, will remain ever unstoppable for the emperor.
ततः प्रक्षाल्य पादौ सा विश्रान्तं मुनिमब्रवीत्। विनिधाय ततो भारं संनिधाय फलानि च ॥१-६७-३०॥
Then, after washing his feet, she spoke to the sage who was resting. She placed the burden and the fruits nearby.
मया पतिर्वृतो योऽसौ दुःषन्तः पुरुषोत्तमः। तस्मै ससचिवाय त्वं प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥१-६७-३१॥
I have chosen as my husband the noble Duṣyanta, the best of men. You should show him favor along with his ministers.
कण्व उवाच॥
Kaṇva spoke.
प्रसन्न एव तस्याहं त्वत्कृते वरवर्णिनि। गृहाण च वरं मत्तस्तत्कृते यदभीप्सितम् ॥१-६७-३२॥
I am truly pleased with him because of you, O beautiful one. Therefore, accept a boon from me, whatever you desire.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
ततो धर्मिष्ठतां वव्रे राज्याच्चास्खलनं तथा। शकुन्तला पौरवाणां दुःषन्तहितकाम्यया ॥१-६७-३३॥
Then Shakuntala chose righteousness and stability for the kingdom, for the welfare of Dushyanta, of the Pauravas.
